In a precedent-setting decision that could affect the future of Internet service, regulators on Friday ruled that Comcast Corp. violated federal policies when it blocked customers from sharing online videos and other large files.
The Federal Communications Commission, in a 3-2 vote, asserted a new authority and ordered the cable giant to stop certain practices that interfere with online traffic. At a meeting in Washington, the agency called Comcast’s actions inconsistent with “an open and accessible Internet.”
Philadelphia-based Comcast, the largest U.S. cable firm, has said it delayed traffic for some file-sharing users to protect service for the majority of its customers. Under federal pressure, the company pledged in March to stop the practice by the end of the year and explore other techniques to manage its network.
But FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said Friday that Comcast went too far, targeting specific file-sharing applications, delaying downloads and blocking uploads at all hours, even when network congestion was low.
